This massive and powerful 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone type steam locomotive was built by Lima in October of 1939 with the traditional "rear-cab" arrangement, not to be confused with their "cab-forward" sisters. The AC-9 class was fitted with an air-smoothed casing similar to those on the GS-4 4-8-4 passenger locomotives (without the colors). In April of 1950, the loco was converted from coal to an oil burner at El Paso, TX. The loco then served for nearly 17 years before being vacated in July of 1955 at Spraks, NV and finally sold for scrap in October of 1955. Specs - class AC-9, 63 1/2" drivers, impressive 250 psi boiler pressure, four 24x32" cylinders, engine weight of 689,900 lb, impressive tractive effort of 124,300 lb.No date was given for the photo but it appears to be sitting on an active siding..Tthis would make it before 1955. An unknown photographer took this photo.

Southern Pacific in the Arizona Desert

Western Fruit Express reefer WFBX 71442&showing detail of routing markings.

Southern Pacific's Tucson AZ engine facility in the summer of 1972; Today it's full of EMDs although GE U33Cs and U25Bs were common as well.

SP GP9 3418, complete with "Ash Can" light, is the last unit on a westbound train at Tucson at 2:10PM on 13 July 1972; It's trailing U33C 8679, GP9s 3703, 3524 and U25B 6727.

SP U33C 8760 assists Amtrak's Sunset Limited eastbound out of Tucson. Most of the cars, as are the UP E-units, remain in their original owners' colors.

Nuevecitas En Tucson AZ

SP 1413. Note red belt raiil.

Train #2

at Pacific Fruit Express shops, Tucson, Arizona 1980 (photo date approximate)

at Pacific Fruit Express shops, Tucson, Arizona 1980 (photo date approximate)

Built by Budd Co in 1954, this 67 seat hi-level coach car was ATSF #526. Later sold to Amtrack, it was renumbered AMTK 9900. An unknown photographer shnt the color slide.

Sparks fly as a gondola car is rebuilt at the Pacific Fruit Express shops in Tucson, Arizona (photo date approximate)

All spots are taken at the SP engine terminal in Tucson, Arizona 1980 (photo date approximate)

SP SW1500 2673 and what appears to a railroad crash barrier made out of steel drums at Phoenix, Arizona on an unknown day in December 1981, photo by Chuck Zeiler. Built in July 1972 (c/n 4608-83) on EMD Order 4608, and later assigned UPY 1221, per first hand information from Chris Burch, a hostler at North Platte..

I know I have a full roster shot of this beast but darned if I can find it... :- (

What do you mean the doors go back on in a certain order?!